Amelia Zingis, a 23-year-old ice dancer from Grosse Point Farms, has qualified for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina.
She trains in Novi with her partner and has been on a dedicated journey to reach this milestone.
Her family and longtime coach Igor Spielman have been key supporters throughout her career.
Spielman, who has coached Zingis’s partner Nadim since he was 15, played a pivotal role in their development.
“She’s worked so hard, and it’s been a journey,” said her mother, Marsha Zingas. “It didn’t just happen overnight, so I really respect her and admire her, and I am just so proud of the woman that she’s become.”
Zingis shared an emotional moment watching the NBC broadcast where she saw her mother hugging the family, saying, “I just lost it. I started crying.”
She credits her sisters as major inspirations, saying, “They’ve been one of my biggest inspirations in all of my life. There’s never been a day that they didn’t support me and uplift me.”
Looking ahead to the Olympics, Zingis joked about packing and shopping plans, noting the family’s love for shopping and the need to budget while in Milan.
She acknowledged the sacrifices her family has made for her success: “They’ve seen me struggle and the hardest times in my life. I’m very close with my family and very open with them.”
Zingis recalled how her coach, Spielman, first suggested ice dancing to her, saying, “To be honest, I thought Igor was a little bit crazy. He just saw me skate one time and said, ‘I think you should do ice dance.’”
Her father, Christopher Zingas, praised her dedication and the family’s sacrifices, saying, “For her to make the Olympic team and do well in nationals is the culmination of years of hard work.”
Local 4 will be covering the Winter Games in Milan, tracking athletes with ties to Metro Detroit like Amelia Zingis.
The coverage will include glimpses into Italian culture and behind-the-scenes Olympic moments starting Feb. 6.